calk

< /ˈkɔ kɪŋ/. a material or substance used for caulking.

verb

1. a variant spelling of caulk

noun

1. a metal projection on a horse’s shoe to prevent slipping
2. mainly US and Canadian a set of spikes or a spiked plate attached to the sole of a boot, esp by loggers, to prevent slipping

verb (tr)

3. to provide with calks
4. to wound with a calk

verb

1. (tr) to transfer (a design) by tracing it with a blunt point from one sheet backed with loosely fixed colouring matter onto another placed underneath

verb

1. to stop up (cracks, crevices, etc) with a filler
2. nautical to pack (the seams) between the planks of the bottom of (a vessel) with waterproof material to prevent leakage

v.

late 14c., “to stop up crevices or cracks,” from Old North French cauquer, from Late Latin calicare “to stop up chinks with lime,” from Latin calx (2) “lime, limestone” (see chalk). Original sense is nautical, of making ships watertight. Related: Caulked; caulking. As a noun, “caulking material,” by 1980 (caulking in this sense was used from 1743). Related: Caulker.